01.26.2022 | BRINGING RESTORATION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST
BRINGING RESTORATION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST
1. The Sheep Gate – Ministry to the People of God
Psalm 100:3 – “Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Matthew 9:36 – “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
Are we effectively ministering to God’s people? Are they growing in the Lord?
2. The Fish Gate – Ministry to the Lost
Matthew 4:18 – “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.”
Matthew 4:19 – “Then He said to them. ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.’”
Are we effectively reaching the lost with the Good News of Jesus Christ?
3. The Old Gate – Restoration of the Foundational Truths of the Word
2 Timothy 3:16a – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
Acts 2:42 – “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.”
Are God’s people standing upon the solid rock of truth of the Word?
4. The Valley Gate – The Ministry of Compassion
Nehemiah 3:13a – “Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate.”
“Hanun” means to bend or stoop in kindness to another.
“It takes a ministry of kindness and compassion to build a Valley Gate.” – Frank Damazio
Are we reaching out to people going through the valleys of life?
5. The Dung Gate – The Ministry of Cleansing
The Dung Gate – The gate through which waste and garbage were taken.
Jesus came to “set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18)
Are we helping people find freedom in Christ?
6. The Fountain Gate – The Ministry of Refreshing
John 7:37 – “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.’”
John 7:38 – “‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Are we seeing people refreshed in the Spirit and filled with the Spirit?
7. The Water Gate – The Ministry of the Word
Ephesians 5:26 – “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.”
Nehemiah 8:1 – “Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Moses.”
Are people hungry for, and growing in the Word of God?
8. The Horse Gate – The Ministry of Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
This ministry is the practical helping of one another as we go through life.
Is there a sense of bearing one another’s burdens in the Body Christ?
9. The Muster Gate – The Ministry of Helping People Find Their Gifting
Every person and family had a place on the wall in the time of Nehemiah.
Every believer has a place of ministry in the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:20 – “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.”
Are we helping people find their place in the Body of Christ?
10. The East Gate – The Perfecting of the Bride of Christ
Acts 1:11 – “Who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’”
Ephesians 5:27 – “That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
Are we preparing people for the return of Jesus Christ?